The 15 Best Hair Masks for Repairing Damaged Strands

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By IPSY Editors
Published on March 19, 2020
Best hair mask from GRACE & STELLA and a model looking at her reflection
Best hair mask from GRACE & STELLA and a model looking at her reflection

Dry hair got you down? All hope is not lost. Everything from genetics to too much heat styling can lead to damaged hair, but with the right moisturizing hair products and a little TLC, you can get back to happy, healthy hair in no time. 

And if you have noticed more breakage and split ends than usual, it’s time to haul out our favorite haircare classic: a hydrating hair mask. Think of a hair mask like moisturizing facial: it's a deep-conditioning treatment that helps revive damaged, dull hair in a matter of minutes. 

Want to treat your hair to a moisturizing hair mask, but aren’t sure which one’s for you? We've compiled our list of the 15 best hair masks for damaged hair to nourish every hair type, from thick hair to thin. Read on to find the best hydrating treatment for you, and get ready for shiny, healthy hair.

NATURELAB TOKYO Repair Treatment Masque
NATURELAB TOKYO Repair Treatment Masque

1. NATURELAB TOKYO Repair Treatment Masque

The best ingredients for damaged hair come straight from Mother Nature herself. This nourishing hair masque features a variety of hydrating botanical ingredients like strengthening bamboo stem cells, moisturizing argan oil, protective keratin, and antioxidant-rich prickly pear oil to bring dehydrated, damaged hair back to life. Work into your hair from root to tip, let it sit for 3-5 minutes, and ta-da! Brittle, frizzy tresses are transformed back to soft, healthy, and touchable health.

BRIOGEO HAIR CARE Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask
BRIOGEO HAIR CARE Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask

2. BRIOGEO HAIR CARE Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask

Breathe some life back into your strands with BRIOGEO Hair Hair Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask. This deep conditioning hair mask is a beauty award-winner for a reason. In just a few minutes, it delivers a revitalizing dosage of B-vitamins, rosehip and argan oils, nourishing algae, and biotin to moisturize and replenish even the driest, most damaged hair. What's more, it's great for a variety of hair types, whether you have natural hair, relaxed hair, or color-treated hair.

GRACE & STELLA CO. Rescue My Hair Mask
GRACE & STELLA CO. Rescue My Hair Mask

3. GRACE & STELLA CO. Rescue My Hair Mask

Think your damaged hair is beyond repair? Think again. Frizz and split ends are no match against the hydrating antioxidants, vitamin E, argan oil, sunflower oil, and guava extract that make up this hair mask. Available in full-size as well as a convenient travel size for those desperate airplane hair emergencies, it’s the rescue hair mask you didn’t know you needed.

EVA NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask
EVA NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask

4. EVA NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask

Even your hair needs therapy every now and then–moisture therapy, that is. EVA NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask is a deep conditioner that uses argan oil and vitamins to nourish lifeless strands while their signature Keravis technology repair broken hairs. Use it as a weekly moisturizing hair treatment or as a daily conditioner. For severely damaged hair, combine it with a few drops of your favorite hair oil for shinier, smoother hair that feels nourished, moisturized, and deeply revived.

OUAI HAIRCARE Treatment Masque
OUAI HAIRCARE Treatment Masque

5. OUAI HAIRCARE Treatment Masque

Think of your hair like a garden: it needs regular moisture and care in order to grow and thrive. OUAI HAIRCARE Treatment Masque is beloved by hairstylists and beauty editors alike for its super-effective, ultra-hydrating treatment in just 5 minutes. Artichoke leaf extract, tamarind seed extract, and an amino acid blend work together to reinforce weakened split ends and smooth frizz. The best part: the heavenly, oh-so-relaxing scent of rose, lychee, and white musk.

BUMBLE AND BUMBLE While You Sleep Damage Repair Masque
BUMBLE AND BUMBLE While You Sleep Damage Repair Masque

6. BUMBLE AND BUMBLE While You Sleep Damage Repair Masque

Go to bed with split ends, and wake up with shinier, smoother strands. BUMBLE AND BUMBLE While You Sleep Damage Repair Masque is an overnight hair treatment mask that’s suitable for any hair type, from curly hair to straight hair. It has evening primrose oil (extremely rich in omega-6 fatty acids) to restore breakage mixed with camellia oil to nourish and hydrate. Let’s be real, what’s better than a luxurious hair treatment that works its magic effortlessly overnight?

AVEDA Dry Remedy™ Moisturizing Masque
AVEDA Dry Remedy™ Moisturizing Masque

7. AVEDA Dry Remedy™ Moisturizing Masque

When you treat your hair, you treat yourself. With lavender, ginger lily, and a host of nourishing extracts, AVEDA Dry Remedy™ Moisturizing Masque makes your hair feel as fabulously soft and luscious as it smells. This cruelty-free, deep-conditioning masque not only delivers much-needed moisture to your strands, but it seals it in for long-lasting suppleness. Fine hair will feel thicker and stronger, and curly hair will feel smoother and shinier. Use as often as you like, depending on your hair type and needs.

KLORANE Mask with Mango Butter
KLORANE Mask with Mango Butter

8. KLORANE Mask with Mango Butter

When it comes to finding the best hair treatment masks, you want one with effects that will actually last longer than a day. This KLORANE Mask With Mango Butter provides intense, enduring hydration. Mango seed butter naturally detangles hair (without weighing it down), protects against the drying effects of the sun’s UV rays, and improves hair’s ability to retain moisture. All of these things are great for your hair care in the long-run. Depending on how much time you have on your hands, leave this deep conditioning hair treatment in your hair for between 5 and 20 minutes.

THEORIE Helichrysum Nourishing Hair Mask
THEORIE Helichrysum Nourishing Hair Mask

9. THEORIE Helichrysum Nourishing Hair Mask

If you regularly apply hair color or opt for heat styling, this is the hair mask for you. Made with hyaluronic acid and Ginkgo biloba leaf extract, this hydrating treatment nourishes brittle, over-processed damaged hair back to life so that it feels like it was never styled at all.

LATHER Avocado Mint Hair Repair
LATHER Avocado Mint Hair Repair

10. LATHER Avocado Mint Hair Repair

The best hair treatment masks have natural, nourishing ingredients, and LATHER Avocado Mint Hair Repair is no exception. This incredibly deep-conditioning hair treatment mask features almost every hydrating ingredient you can think of: emollient shea butter, nourishing macadamia seed and jojoba oil, and replenishing avocado oil, to name a few. Peppermint and tea tree oil also nourish your scalp without adding product build-up, so you can leave your shower with healthy hair and smelling clean and refreshed.

NEUMA neuMoisture Intensive Masque
NEUMA neuMoisture Intensive Masque

11. NEUMA neuMoisture Intensive Masque

Is your hair exhausted from regular hair color treatments over the years? Give it a little pick-me-up with NEUMA neuMoisture Intensive Masque, specially formulated for chemically-damaged hair. Made without parabens, this hair masque has all of our favorite hair care ingredients: grape seed oil hydrates, jojoba seed transforms frizz with shine, and yarrow extract promotes hair growth. To top it all off, a sweet tangerine and vanilla smell immediately puts you (and your stressed hair) at ease.

NAISTURE Damage Hair Care Mask
NAISTURE Damage Hair Care Mask

12. NAISTURE Damage Hair Care Mask

Damaged hair, meet your match. This NAISTURE Damage Hair Care Mask comes in a convenient portable packet, ideal for travel and last-minute moisturizing. As they say, great things come in small packages, and this one’s chock-full of coconut oil, sesame seed extract, willow bark extract, and pearl extract, all of which will make your hair softer, smoother, and shinier.

TRISSOLA Intense Hydrating Mask
TRISSOLA Intense Hydrating Mask

13. TRISSOLA Intense Hydrating Mask

Even hair needs occasional anti-aging care. TRISSOLA Intense Hydrating Mask is a unique hair treatment that helps turn back the clock on tired strands. Totally free of phosphate, sulfate, and parabens (which damage hair in the long-term), this deep-conditioning mask instead uses essential oils and extracts to bring some youthful shine and bounce back to even the most worn-out hair.

NEON & CO. Hair & Scalp Mask
NEON & CO. Hair & Scalp Mask

14. NEON & CO. Hair & Scalp Mask

When it comes to hair repair, moisturizing and nourishing your scalp is just as important as moisturizing your actual hair shaft. NEON & CO. Hair & Scalp Mask infuses parched, fragile hair cuticles with keratin proteins and silk amino acids that relax and reinforce, giving both your scalp and hair a powerful pick-me-up. For best results, wear a shower cap after applying to ensure all the moisturizing ingredients condition as deeply as possible.

FRANK BODY Caffeinated Hair Mask
FRANK BODY Caffeinated Hair Mask

15. FRANK BODY Caffeinated Hair Mask

Like a shot of espresso for your hair, this FRANK BODY Caffeinated Hair Mask uses natural ingredients to restore your hair and scalp health. We love that it’s non-greasy, so it won’t weigh down fine, damaged hair. Bonus fun fact: all of Frank Body products contain some caffeine–‘cause honestly, who couldn't use an energy boost?

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